Cable connector



March 13, 1945. H. PURAT CABLE CONNECTOR Original Filed Dec. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 |NVENTOR BY/fzthgo fg) vATI-O Y5.

March 13, 1945.

Vl-LFuJRA-r CABLE CONNECTOR Original File'd`Dec. l5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hugo Para?. ,.LY

' ATroR 'ably liquid, to cause the Patented Mar. 13, 1945 CABLE CONNECTOR Bugo Purat, DetroitQMlch., assignor to `Progressive Welder Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application December 13, 1940, Serial No.

369,939. Divided and this application November 23, 1942, Serial No. 466,689

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-19) 'Ihe present invention relates to electric welders and particularlyrelates to improved cable constructions adapted for use on such Welders.

VThe present'application is a division of "applicants copending application, Serial No. 369,- 930, filed December 13, 1940. Y

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide improved cable constructions which provide ythe electric conductors between the transverse conductors to the electrodes and which are more flexible than prior constructions so that they may'be more readily manipulated. i

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an eilicient construction by which the conductors forming a part of the. cable construction may be maintained at a relatively-low temperature by the circulation of water therethrough, yet which does not interfere with the manipulation of the Welder.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specication, the drawings relating thereto and the claims hereinafter set forth'.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout: c

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts in elevation-of a portable Welder having a cable construction according to the present in vention associated therewith; Y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view.of the cable construction, illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form-of cable construction andshowing such cable connected at its ends to the connecting means for connection with the transformer secondary and the welding electrodes; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable illustrated in Fis. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken'substantially along the line H of Fig. 3.`

Referring to the drawings and referring particularly to Figs. l and 2 thereof. in which one embodiment of the inventionis illustrated, a pair of welder electrodesl land 2 are mounted, one on a reciprocable. piston 4 and the other on a bracket 5. The piston 4 is 6 and is actuated by pressure of a fluid, preferelectrodes I and'! to press the work during the welding operation.

located ln a cylinder The electrode I is located on an arm 1, which extends laterally from the piston 4. and the 4end part of the bracket 5 extends substantially parallel to the arm 1 to dispose the electrodes I and 2; axially oii'set, with respectto the piston of the cylinder and the welder.. I

A head 8 of the cylinder forms a base for assembling the parts of the welder. The head 8 has a tapped socket 9 in which a threaded end of the cylinder may be located to secure the cylinder to. the head. A resilient means. that coacts with the cylinder pressure to reciprocate the piston within-the cylinder, is connected to the head. An electrode supporting bracket of the desired form, such as the bracket 5. is also connected to the head. One end of each of the conductors is connected to the head in a manner that will be pointed out in detail hereinafter.

For producing the return movement of theV Welder electrode I, subsequent to a welding operation, a spring II is interposed between a head or nut I2, formed on or secured to the end of a rod I4 and the end part of a. sleeve I5. The rod I4 is connected to the arm 1 of the piston. The spring surrounds the rod I4 and is located in the sleeve I5 which is secured to the head 8 by bolts I6.

The end of the bracket 5. which supports the end ofthe electrode I, is tapered and fits into a tapered opening I 8 formed in the head 8. It is also provided with an annular shoulder 20 that engages the head when the tapered endis drawn into the head by the bolt 2l. The bracket 5 may also be further secured by a split ring clamp 22, which is connected of the cylinder 6.

The head 8 of the welder is connected to a source of supply of electric current by means of a cable construction, generally indicated at 23, constructed according to vvthe present invention. Such cable construction includes a central, helically wound, flexible, tubular member 24, which is formed withoverlapping flanges, so that the member is flexible in all directions and so that itis pervious to the passage of fluid, such'as water, through the overlapping joints of the adjacent convolutions which form the side wall thereof. A stranded electric conductor 25 sur-` rounds the central member-,24, engaging the outinsulating memconductor 25 in may'be formed of rubber or composite provided with aperthereof. Another er surfacethereof. A pervious ber 26 surroungsmthe stranded spaced relation thereto and suitable material, auch as rubber and fabric material, tures through the wall to the central part Y stranded electric conductor 21 surrounds the insulating member'28 in contact with the outer surface thereof.- The elements of the cable, above described, are concentrically arranged with respect to each other; and in the manufacture of such cable those elements, above described, may be formed and assembled and another insulating member 28 may thereafter be placed in surrounding relationship to the stranded member 21, and may either bear thereagainst or be spaced therefrom, also in concentric relationship.

The stranded conductors 25 and 21 are connected to the head by coaxially disposed tubular connectors 28 and 2s. The connector 28 may be 4initially ilared outwardly,y as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. l, so that the end of the cable cured in a socket 48 formed in a `connector 45, which is secured to the terminal 45 in electric contact therewith. l

'I'he end of conductor 25 is also secured within a socket 52 formed in the end of a connector 54 which is coaxially disposed in the connector 48.

The terminal 41 has a tapped opening, and the 54 and the sleeve and also between the connectors member 28' may thereafter bepressed inwardly to secure the cable to the head.

Water, which forms the cooling medium, may be directed through the electrodes and through the central tubular member 24 for maintaining the electrodes and the conductors at a relatively low temperature, Such water passes through the pervious central member 24, through the stranded member 25, and .through the apertures in the insulating member 26 into member 21'. It is recognized that this introduces a short in the secondary when the primary is closed; but the current is present in the secondary for such a short time and the resistance is so much higher across the short than across the welding electrodes that the proper welding operation is not disturbed.

The head 8 of the Welder is formed of two separable sections 3Il and 30'- that are separated by electric insulating sheet material 3|. The head sections are clamped together by suitable means such as bolts I5 and 2l. 'I'he end part of conductor 21 is located ina socket 83, formed in the connector 28'; and such end may be suitably secured within the socket by asoldering or sweating` operation.- 'I'he head section 38' is tapered and the connector 29 is threaded therein.

The connector 28 is provided with a socket 35, which receives the end of the stranded conductor 25. Such end may be secured thereto by a soldering or sweating operation.

'I'he lower end of the connector 29 is preferably tapered and is located in a tapered opening 'section 3l). 'I'he connectors 28 and 29 are insulated from each other by suitable insulatingy material 22, and the bracket 5 is also electrically insulated from the head section 30 by a suitable bushing of insulating material.

The electrode 2 is electrically connected through the bracket 5 with head section 80'; and the conductor 21 is connected to such head section 80' through connector 28. The electrode I is electrically connected through the piston 4, the

cylinder 8, the head section 88 and the connector 29 to the stranded conductor 25, whereby the welding current may be caused to ilow through the conductors and the work, when the electrodes are pressed against the work by the operation of the cylinder and the piston.

'I'he other ends of the conductors 21 and 25 are similarly connected to the terminals 48 and 41, respectively, of the secondary ofthe transformer, which constitutes the source of supply of the welding current. The end of conductor 21 is se- 54 and 49. Thus, rthe current induced in the secondary flows through the conductors 21 and 25 to the connectors 28 and 29, respectively, which are in turn connected, respectively, through the bracket 5 to 'the electrode 2 and through the cylinder 6 and the piston 4 to the electrode I.

The piston 4 is formed to eiiiciently complete the circuit from the cylinder 6 to the electrode I, as clearly disclosed in Martin Patent No. 2,193,977, in which a Welder such as that here l illustrated is disclosed in detail. The piston 4 is operated hydraulically by pressure transmitted by oil or other liquid, which is connected with the head 8 through an opening 62 located above the head of the piston 4 for admission of the liquid to the cylinder. The pipe leading to such opening is, of course, connected to a suitable means for producing' a high hydraulic pressure and thereby produce a proper welding pressure. Also, any well known means known in the art may be automatically or manually operated to complete the 'primary circuit and cause the welding current to ilow to the electrodes I and 2 through the work when the work is subjected to the welding pressure.

To maintain the electrodes and the conductors cool, a cooling liquid, such as water,.is conducted through the connectors, the cable and the electrodes. In the structure illustrated, water from a suitable. source is conducted into a passageway 51 formed in bracket 5, which leads to the interior of the welding electrode 2 by means'of the tube 68. The liquid passes outwardly Fthrough a passageway formed in the bracket'and through a conduit 10 to the arms 1 of the piston 4, where it is connected to a passageway 1I through which the liquid iiows to the electrode I and then ilows from the electrode I through a passageway 12 and a conduit 14 connected to the arm 1 of the piston. 'I'he conduit 14 is connected to the head 8 ofthe cylinder and is introduced through an `opening 11 formed in the head 8 at a point located near the end of the cylinder 25. The liquid then 'flows through the coaxial opening 18 formed in such connector into the centralmember 24. The member 24 is pervious to the passage of liquid through the wall thereof, so that such liquid seeps out through the stranded conductor 25 to cool such conductor. The liquid then passesoutwardly through an axial opening 19 formed in the connector 54 and outwardly, through a. passageway 80 formed in terminal 11 and then outwardly through a connection to a conduit memoer 8| to either a suitable reservoir or a point of discharge.

Referring to Figs. 3 throughv 6, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which another form of welding cable is generally indicated at 82, having one of its ends connected to the electrodes of a welding gun by means of a connector, generally indicated at 84, and having its other end connected tothe secondary of the transformer through a connector, generally indifitting for connecting attached to tone of the ups. A connector |,I4

y of the aperture |88 amiss g The cable 82 comprises a central member 88. v'

which is formed of a spiral spring and which is generally tubular in form and of such a construction so that the wall thereof isfperforate between the convolutions of thespring. Water', or a similar cooling uid may, therefore, pass through the wall between such convolutions, so that the iluid seeps through the surrounding. strands of a stranded conductor 88, which corresponds to the conductor 2l in the embodiment above described. An insulating member 82 surrounds the stranded conductor 88 and engages the outer surface thereof. Buch a member 82 is imperforate and may be formed o! rubber or a composite rubber and fabric material. Another stranded conductor member 84 surrounds the member 82 and bears thereagainst. Such member 84, corresponds to the 'conductor 21 in the embodiment above described. The elements so `far described are con centrically arranged with respectto each other and after such elements have been formed in the assembled positions described, another insulating member 88 is positioned in surrounding relationship to the stranded member 84 and preferablyin spaced relation thereto to provide an annular space therebetween. The member 8l is also ccncentrically arranged with respect to the other elements.

'I'he connector 84 is 4formed in separable sections 88 and III, which are bolted together by means of bolts |42, but which are electrically insulated from each other by means of suitable insulation |84.

The section 88 is formed with an axial, tapered opening |88 therethrough, having an annular chamber |88 communicating at the yinner edge with a tubular extension H8. Diametrically opposed tapped openings ||2 are provided through the wall of section 88 and communicate with the annular chamber |88. Either one of such tapped have attached thereto a one of the cooling water as such tting is usually openings, the other opening is plugged up. Both openings are provided for convenient accommodation to diiferent setis suitably secured to a ilattened face ||8 of the section 88 for electrical connection to the one electrode of the welder gun. f

The central member 88, the stranded member 88 and the insulating member 82 are passed through the opening |88 of section 88. As the walls of the opening-|88 are tapered, the stranded section 84 is flared, so that it contacts the tapered wall." A sleeve member having thevouter wall thereof tapered corresponding to the taper and having an inner axial opening ||8, is thenpositioned within the section 88 so that the outer tapered surface thereof bears against the inner surface of the stranded member 84 and urges it into contact with the tapered opening |88. The members 88, 88 and 82 pass through the central opening 88. When the sec-l tion |8l is drawn into position by the bolts |82, it will be seen that an emcient co'ntact is obtained due to the wedge action of the member Ill against the flared ends. of the stranded member I4.

The section |8| is provided with an axial reconduits thereto and,

cess |28, which receives the end of the strandedmember 88 and'member 88 therein. Buch end -way |22and the may, be secured within y ing or sweating operation. An axial passageway |22 is also formed in section |8| in augment with the passageway formed through member 8l. A

pair of oppositely disposed transverse passage--` `ways |24 are formed in member |8| and comoi' passageways |24 are tapped i'or the reception of a conduit fitting for the' passage of fluid through either one of the conduits |24, .passage passageway formed by the mein-` ber 88.

When the conduit iltting-is attached to one side 'only of the member case, the other side may be-plugged up. Both sides are provided with passageways, the same as the passageway ||2 in section 88, so that the structure may be convenientlyv accommodated to diiIerent set-ups. The outer end of passageway l 22 is also plugged up.

The member |8| is also formed with an axially extending projection |28, which provides the connection for the other electrode of the welding Elm.

As stated above, the connectors 84 and 86 are the samein construction and the corresponding elements of connector 88 have been indicated by primed numerals for the purpose of identiilcation. It is to be understood that the connectors ||4 and |28 are suitably connected to the respective terminals of the secondary of the transformer.

As in the embodiment ldescribed above, a suitable source and suitable conduits are provided for passing a cooling duid, such as water, through the cable to maintain the conductors at a properly low temperature. Such cooling iluid is also passed through the-welding electrodes, as in the embodiment described above. The cooling water may be circulated so that it passes rst through the central member 88, passing outwardly through the wall thereof into contact with the stranded conductor 88, and then passed back through the space betweenthe conductor 84 and the insulating member 86 so that it engages the strands of this conductor. This is the preferable circulating path since the center oi but the circulation could be through the outer space and back through the inner member 88, it desired.

'Ihe cooling fluid may be passed into the centno eoeket lzn by e somer- |8|, as is usually thel Y municate with passageway |22, 'I'he outer ends the cable is the hottest,

' trai member sa' through a conduit attached to t the unplugged passageway |24 at one end of the cable and passed out through the corresponding passageway |24 at the other end of the cable. I'he returning iiuid enters passageway ll 2 at auch other end, into the annular space |88, into the space between the conductor 84 and member Il.

and into annular chamber |88', and out through described without departing the corresponding passageway ||2. It will thus be seen that the present construction provides an emcient means for eii'lectively coolingboth of the stranded conductors 88 and 84.

Form1 changes may be made in the speelde an axial recess therein adaptedto receive the' inner conductor therein and being electrically connected to the inner conductor, atleast one or said sections having a coolant passage communicating with said passageway through which coolant may be introduced to thelatter, and means for securing said sections together in abuttingrelationship but insulated from each other.

HUGO P URAT. 

